Memories Flood My Mind

I have been feeling a little sentimental this whole week. I'm not really sure what that is all about, but I know I'm missing my Christmases past. I have been remembering things this week that I have not even thought about probably since I was a little girl.

I had to work on Christmas Eve (night shift), and as I was driving home on Christmas morning I don't even remember seeing the road (thank God there wasn't any traffic and the drive is pretty short). I had this really cool reel to reel movie playing in my head and it was brining me all my Christmases past. It was bittersweet. I laughed a little, was sad a little and at times even noticed a tear or two from all the memories flooding my mind.

See, we may have not been the "richest" family in the neighborhood. We may have not always had it all together as a family. We certainly had our moments of disfunction. But it seemed at Christmas time all that didn't matter. Because on Christmas morning I was the richest kid in town.

My sister and I were not allowed into the living room until we were sure mom and dad were awake. I always seemed to be the first up and at ungodly hours, I'm sure. I would wake my sister and then we would decide if we were going to peek or just wake up our parents. Once they were awake and out of bed we would make a run for it to the living room to find our "side" of the tree. Santa would put all of my goodies on one side of the tree and my sisters on the other side. Because there is 4 years between us, it wasn't hard to decide whose side belonged to who.

I was remembering all my special and most favorite toys. And then I found some pictures online of them. It made me smile from all the memories. Because what I know is that many times while I was growing up, my dad worked two jobs. We didn't really have all we wanted but we certainly had all we needed and then some. I know they worked very hard to give us what we wanted. Spoiled? Yes in some ways, but not usually with material items. Christmas was almost always the exception. Mom would work hard shopping early in the season and stashing gifts here and there so we wouldn't have clue. Then on Christmas morning, our living room would be full of gifts for the two of us. Gifts from Santa in front of the tree and gifts from mom and dad wrapped under the tree.

One of my favorite gifts was the play kitchen I got. Mom called it my "combikitchen". It sat in my room for many years and I would put real water in the sink and wash my play dishes. I had a small wooden table with two chairs in my room and I would invite my friends and family over for "meals" that I would prepare for them in my toy oven. I had lots and lots of plastic food and boxes of "groceries" that was stored in the cabinets of my kitchen. I loved having dinner parties in my bedroom.

I was one of those girly girls that played with dolls until I was probably way too old to be playing with dolls.  One that I think is absolutely hilarious now, but I loved it back in the day was my "Whoopsie" doll.  She was a plastic doll that had pigtails.  When you squeezed her belly the pigtails would go up and down and she would make a squeeking sound that sounded a lot like "whoopsie".  I had to be around 7 years old when I got this doll because I believe she came out around 1979.

I was also VERY into Brabie.  That should be another post altogether being that Barbie is celebrating her 50th Birthday and all.  I can still remember the exciting I had when I saw this pair sitting in front of my Christmas tree.  They tagged along for the hour long ride to grandma's house that Christmas morning and we put on "skating shows" for all my cousins and aunts and uncles that afternoon.  They were like the coolest present that year.  I actually had the Roller Skating Barbie!!! 

The year my sister and I got the Atari we were the happiest kids in the universe. Dad hooked the atari up the console TV that sat in our living room floor and we played frogger, pitfall, breakout, space invaders, combat and pacman for hours on end.  We were in video game heaven!!  We still had our old original atari system and games (it still worked), until about 6 years ago.  I want to say we sold it in a garage sale.  Wonder how much that would be worth about now, still in working condition?

I loved to roller skate as a kid.  What I learned at the roller rink could also be illegal a whole post in itself! I loved the new white roller skates I got one year.  They had pink laces and a big pink yarn ball on the toe of the shoe.  I was way cool at the rink after Christmas that year.  I didn't have to rent my skates anymore!

Does anyone remember this cute littl guy.  If I remember right he went almost everywhere with me.  Stashed in my school bag, to church, shopping, in the car. . .pretty much everywhere.  I do also remember driving my sister absolutely crazing singing the song from the commerical over and over and over. 

If you just can't stand it and MUST hear the song, click the video below!

Then the year I got the greatest gift on earth.  My very own baby.  A for REAL baby that ate, drank, wet and pooped.  She came fully equipped with  a diaper bag, diapers, food and bowl, spoon, and even a bottle.  I was a proud moma of a real baby.  I also took her everywhere with me!  You can't leave your baby at home while you go shopping now can you?  My maternal instincts kicked in early.  Baby alive was the first baby I ever loved!
I remember seeing this commercial during Saturday  morning cartoons and begging mom for her.  I also remember her telling me I might want to ask Santa.  That year I must have been a good girl, because
Santa delivered, as usual!! 



These memories and many many more flooded my mind yesterday while I was spending christmas with my family, Sharon, Jody and Sharon's siblings.  Then I was blessed by gift of my other parents coming to share the evening with us.  That was a special treat!  (A fun Christmas post with pictures is yet to come)

I did talk to my sister as she was spending Christmas with her other family as well.  I talked to my mom and dad online.  They were having a good warm day in Brazil spending Christmas with their Brazilian family.  We may all be scattered afar, but they were all close to my heart yesterday.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas as well!!!